Social network system and method

ABSTRACT

A social network system includes one or more participant terminals operable to act as a client on a social network and a computer operable to act as a server on the social network and to communicate with each of the participant terminals over the social network. The computer includes: a memory configured to store a set of instructions; and a processor configured to execute the set of instructions. The set of instructions cause the processor to generate a drop down banner as part of a page of a user. The banner is expandable and retractable by reader commands by invoking a control icon.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of the filing date under 35 USC 120of patent application Ser. No. 13/544,955, filed Jul. 9, 2012, thecontents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

This application relates generally to social networking sites.

SUMMARY

Social media and social networks are an increasing means for people toconnect, conduct business, entertain one another, and the like. Mostsocial media and network sites are rather basic and do not include muchin the terms of rich and deep functionality. Therefore, there exists asignificant need for a more robust social network.

In one embodiment, a social network system comprising: one or moreparticipant terminals operable to act as a client on a social network; acomputer operable to act as a server on the social network and tocommunicate with each of the participant terminals over the socialnetwork, the computer comprising: a memory configured to store a set ofinstructions; and a processor configured to execute the set ofinstructions, wherein the set of instructions cause the processor to:receive a user generated advertisement; display the advertisement on auser profile related to the user advertisement; receive an offer relatedto the displayed advertisement from a buying user; and transfer revenueto the user from the buying user.

In another embodiment, a method for selling items in a social networkcomprising: receiving a user generated advertisement; displaying theadvertisement on a user profile related to the user advertisement;receiving an offer related to the displayed advertisement from a buyinguser; and transferring revenue to the user from the buying user.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The drawings, when considered in connection with the followingdescription, are presented for the purpose of facilitating anunderstanding of the subject matter sought to be protected.

FIG. 1 depicts an illustrative social network;

FIG. 2 depicts a search method within a social network;

FIG. 3 depicts a sponsored advertising method within a social network;

FIG. 4 depicts a user profile in a social network;

FIG. 5 depicts an email method in a social network;

FIG. 6 depicts a user-advertising method within a social network;

FIG. 7 depicts a calendar within a social network;

FIG. 8 depicts a method for selling applications within a socialnetwork;

FIG. 9 depicts an investment method within a social network;

FIG. 10 depicts a retractable and expandable drop down banner within asocial network;

FIG. 11 depicts a display after the retractable and expandable drop downbanner is engaged within a social network;

FIG. 12 depicts, one of various embodiments, where the boxes or imagesdisplay the possible subject matter contained within the retractable andexpandable drop down banner within a social network; and,

FIG. 13 depicts an icon enabling navigation to other pages and/orsubject matter within the social network or located on another websiteoutside the social network.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring now to FIG. 1, a social network system 100 is depicted. Thesystem may include one or more terminals 102 a-102 n (collectively 102),a server 104, and a communications network 106. The different elementsand components of the system 100 may communicate with one another usingwireless communications or hardwired connections, such as fiber optics,cable, DSL, telephone lines, and other similar connections.

The communications network 106 may include any number of networkscapable of providing communications between the server 104 and terminals102. For example, the communications network may be one or more, or anycombination of, wireless networks, data or packet networks, publiclyswitched telephone networks (PSTN), etc.

The participant terminals 102 may include any suitable device operableto act as a client on a network. Illustrative terminals 102 include, butare not limited to, personal computers, desktop computers, laptopcomputers, servers, or any suitable telecommunications device,including, but not limited to, VoIP telephones, smart telephones orwireless devices, such as cellular telephones, personal digitalassistants (PDA), communications enabled mp3 players, etc. Each terminal102 may be configured to transmit and/or receive information to and/orfrom the server 104 and/or other participant terminals 102.

Search Function

With particular reference to FIGS. 1-2, the server 104 may be anyserver, computer or device configured to process commands from theparticipant terminals 102. For example, the sever 104 may be operable toreceive one or more search terms from one or more terminals 102 [step202]. A user may input one or more search terms into a text entry fielddisplayed at one or more terminals 102. Alternatively, a user may selectone or more search terms from one or more drop-down menus comprising alist or library of predetermined search terms. In one embodiment, a usermay include tags or themes, which have been applied to a post on anotheruser's profile, to further narrow the search. It will, however, beappreciated that any suitable means for receiving one or more searchterms from one or more users at one or more terminals may be employedand remain within the scope of the present disclosure.

Once the search terms are received [step 202], one or more databases 108are searched for each search term [step 204]. The database(s) 108 may bestored on the server 104 or in a separate location apart from the server104. In one non-limiting example, the one or more databases 108 storeinformation related to user profiles in the social network. Eachdatabase 108 may be configured to receive and/or store information fromeach user related to each user's profile. Each database is fullysearchable and the search is not limited to any particular or narrowfield. For example, and without limitation, a user may search thedatabases 108 for information with another user's post, tags or themesused by other user's with their posts, advertisements posted by otheruser's, videos posted by users, images posted by users, biographicalinformation about users (e.g. name, location, gender, e-mail address,etc.) or any other suitable information.

Once the database(s) 108 have been searched, the server 104 may generatea search result [step 206]. In one embodiment, the search resultincludes the number of instances each search term has been found in eachdatabase. Additionally, in one embodiment, the search result includes adate associated with each of the instances that each search term hasbeen found. The date may be any suitable date. The search result may bearranged in any suitable fashion. For example, and without limitation,the results may be arranged according to relevance, number of hits, byuser, alphabetically, or in any other suitable fashion. The userperforming the search may then browse the search results and selectcertain items in the results list to view in further detail.

User Sponsored Ads

The system 100 may also include a user sponsored ad function. With theuser sponsored ad function, a user may include ads on their profile andgenerate revenue from such an ad. Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 3, amethod for user sponsored ads is shown 300. First, the user will selectone or more ads to be added to their profile [step 302]. The ads willtypically be stored in one or more database(s) 108. The user may selectthe ads from the database(s) 108. Alternatively, a user may be presentedwith an opportunity to display an ad from another user or advertiser inthe social network.

In one embodiment, an advertiser may receive certain data about a userto determine if the user is a suitable ad sponsor. The advertiser maygather any suitable demographic data about the user. Also, in oneembodiment, an advertiser may receive information about the tags orthemes a user employs with each post to determine the user's most talkedabout themes (see e.g. the theme section 404 in FIG. 4). An advertisermay select a user based on any suitable information, including, but notlimited to target demographic data, most used themes, etc.

Once the ads are selected [step 302], the advertisement may be displayedin the user's profile [step 304]. In FIG. 4, a profile 400 is shown withan advertisement 402 thereon. It will be appreciated that the ad may beany type of ad (e.g. text, audio, video, etc.) and be located ordisplayed in any suitable manner and the present disclosure is in no waylimited to the illustrative embodiment depicted herein.

Next, the user's revenue from displaying the ad may be calculated [step306]. The user's revenue may be calculated in any suitable manner. Forexample, a user may collect 50% of the ad revenue from the socialnetwork host, the user may collect a predetermined amount of revenue pereach click on the ad from visitors to the user's profile, the user maycollect revenue based on how long the user keeps the ad on the profile,etc. It will be appreciated that the model to calculating revenue may beany suitable model and is in no way limited to the illustrative examplesprovided herein.

E-Mail System

The system 100 may also include an e-mail system that permits a user toe-mail a non-member directly from the user's profile. Referring now toFIG. 5, a illustrative method is shown 500. First, the user will createthe contents for an email within the user's profile in the socialnetwork [step 502]. Next, the system 100 will convert the user's emailto an email from the social network (e.g. user@socialnetwork.com). Thus,when the non-member receives the email and responds to it, thenon-member's response will go directly to the user's profile to allowthe user to view the email within the user's profile on the socialnetwork.

User Shop

The system 100 may also permit users to sell any suitable item fromtheir profile. Referring now to FIG. 6, an illustrative method is shown600. First, the user will create and display an ad on their profile[step 602]. FIG. 4 illustrates an ad 406 displayed on a profile 400.Once the ad is created and displayed [step 602], the user may receiveoffers or bids from other users. The item may be presented as being onsale for a set price or may be auctioned. Once the sale is completed,revenue is transferred from the selling user to the buying user [step606].

Calendar

The system 100 may also be configured to allow a user to have a calendaron their profile. FIG. 7 illustrates a calendar 702 of a user's profile700. The user may choose to make the calendar private or public. In oneembodiment, the calendar may be used to show what the user posted totheir profile on any given day.

Applications

The system 100 may be configured to allow a user to sell user-createdapplications from the user's profile. FIG. 8 illustrates a method 800.First, the user creates an application and uploads it to the userprofile [step 802]. The application is displayed as being available forsale and/or download [step 804]. The application may be for any suitableplatform and may be for use within the social network or for use withany other device (e.g. computer, mobile device, etc.). Once another userpurchases an application from the user profile, the system willcalculate revenue and distribute the revenue to the creator of theapplication [step 806].

Money Game

The system may also be configured to host a money-making game. This gamemay be a stock market game wherein users play with pretend money andpurchase pretend stocks that perform similarly to real-worldcounterparts. User's may be given a certain amount of “money” to playwith upon signing up with an option to purchase additional “money” forthis game. The system may track users and display the top performers(e.g. via their profiles) over a given period of time (e.g. monthly,etc.). In one embodiment, the pretend money is redeemable for prizes andthe like.

Investment Opportunities

The system 100 may also allow users to post investment opportunities totheir profiles. FIG. 9 shows an illustrative method 900. First, a userposts an investment opportunity with all of the information about theinvestment [step 902]. FIG. 4 shows such a posting 408 on a user profile400. The investment posting typically includes what the investment is,what an investor will receive in return, how much investment is needed,etc. Next, the user receives investment commitments from other users inthe social network [step 904]. It is then determined if the user hasreceived the necessary investments [step 906]. If the user has receivedthe necessary investments, the system 100 can distribute the funds tothe user to begin the project [step 908]. If the user did not receivethe necessary investments, the user may cancel the project or re-postthe investment opportunity with more information about the project, lessrequired investment to launch the project, or the even the same postingas before [step 902].

Charity Function

The system 100 may also be configured to permit user's to donate moneyto charities or other users. The user may search the social network forcharities having profiles in the network. The user may then select totransfer funds to the charity of choice in the social network.

Alternatively, the user may choose to donate funds or other goods toanother user in need. The user may search or otherwise notify userswithin user's network that the user is looking to “pay-it-forward” toanother user. The user may then selectively donate the funds and/orgoods to the user in need.

Drop Down Banner

Referring to FIGS. 10-13, the system 100 may also be configured toincorporate retractable and expandable drop down banners as part of auser's profile page or alternatively, as part of any other pageestablished for a user. Accordingly, the system 100 may include acomputer operable to act as a server on the social network and tocommunicate with each of the participant terminals over the socialnetwork, the computer including a memory configured to store a set ofinstructions; and a processor configured to execute the set ofinstructions. The set of instructions cause the processor to generateand manipulate a drop down banner as will be described hereinafter.

As employed herein, the user is a participant operating a participantterminal. Terms of participation may be set by a party organizing oroperating the social networking system 100.

The social networking system 100 will be understood to provide contentviewable by participants as user pages or screens (referring of courseto content displayed at any one time on the screen of a monitor of acomputer of one of the participants in the social networking system100), “user page(s)” and “screen(s)” being used interchangeably herein,depending on context.

Initially, the drop down banner is concealed. An icon such as button1002 on a screen page 1004 (FIG. 10) may be clicked to reveal two rowsof images which appear in drop-down style. Button 1002 may include avisual prompt such as an arrow intuitively suggesting that imagery willdrop down responsively to operating button 1002.

The banner may be expandable. That is, it may for example be extendedlaterally by a user command, such as by invoking a control icon (notshown).

The first row 1004 (FIG. 11) may display for example five boxes orimages 1006, which may pertain to recent posts posted to others in yournetwork by the user's friends. Arrows 1008, 1010 may be clicked to viewa further set of boxes or images 1006. Each box or image 1006 displays alegend such as “Wall Post”, which may be followed by a brief descriptionof the post. The brief description may be a caption summarizes what isdisplayed in that box or image 1006. The image corresponding to thisdescription is then displayed. A further legend identifies a user whooriginated the post.

A second row of boxes or images 1012 is displayed. These images 1012 maypertain to diverse types of subject matter. Illustratively, andreferring to FIG. 12, an image 1012A may for example show a user sellingcertain articles or merchandise. A second image 1012B may for exampleshow images posted by a friend. A third image 1012C may for example showanother user selling other articles or merchandise. Additional images1012 may display a link to a news article posted by a friend (this linkis not illustrated), or an image of still another user selling stillother articles or merchandise (not shown). Other subject matter (nonewill be specifically shown) may be displayed, such as images that afriend within the network has recently uploaded, a new post that afriend has posted on another system page, a new post that a friend hasposted on his or her own page, or a new item listed for sale in afeature of the system 100 dedicated to sales.

As seen in FIG. 13, icons 1014 enabling navigation to other pages and/orsubject matter are displayed.

The drop down banner is retractable by a reader command by invoking acontrol icon. Although a specific control icon is not shown, it may bethat once the drop down banner has dropped down, the button 1002 maychange for example to display an upwardly pointing arrow. Thisintuitively suggests to a user that displayed content will be drawnupwardly and thereby disappear by invoking a control icon such as thebutton 1002.

The social networking system 100 may include computer instructionsmaintained at one or more servers administered or operated by the partyestablishing or operating the social networking system 100, whichcomputer instructions are those operating the drop down banner(s).Alternatively, the computer instructions for operating the drop downbanner(s) may be stored in the computer of the user having the userpage, or in a third party server or computer.

In the illustrative embodiments, the server 104 includes a memory and aprocessor to accommodate the forgoing. However, it will be appreciatedthat the forgoing may be implemented in hardware, software, or asuitable combination of hardware and software, and which can be one ormore software systems operating on a general purpose server platform. Asused herein, a hardware system can include discrete semiconductordevices, an application-specific integrated circuit, a fieldprogrammable gate array or other suitable devices. A software system caninclude one or more objects, agents, threads, lines of code,subroutines, separate software applications, user-readable (source)code, machine-readable (object) code, two or more lines of code in twoor more corresponding software applications, databases, or othersuitable software architectures. In one exemplary embodiment, a softwaresystem can include one or more lines of code in a general purposesoftware application, such as an operating system, and one or more linesof code in a specific purpose software application.

While the present disclosure has been described in connection with whatis considered the most practical and preferred embodiment, it isunderstood that this disclosure is not limited to the disclosedembodiments, but is intended to cover various arrangements includedwithin the spirit and scope of the broadest interpretation so as toencompass all such modifications and equivalent arrangements.

What is claimed is:
 1. A social network system consisting essentiallyof: one or more participant terminals operable to act as a client on asocial network; a computer operable to act as a server on the socialnetwork and to communicate with each of the participant terminals overthe social network, the computer comprising: a memory configured tostore a set of instructions; and a processor configured to execute theset of instructions, wherein the set of instructions cause the processorto: generate a concealable drop down banner as part of a page of a userwherein said concealable drop down banner is comprised of images andcaptions, and wherein said concealable drop down banner is furthercomprised of at least two rows of said images; wherein said at least tworows of images includes a first row and a second row, and wherein eachof said two rows of images is further comprised of five images, andwherein said concealable drop down banner may be extended laterally, andwherein each of said five images contains a caption thereunder whereinone of the two rows of images include wall posts by other users thatidentify the user; wherein the concealable drop down banner isexpandable by a reader command by invoking a control icon; wherein theconcealable drop down banner is concealable by a reader command byinvoking a control icon; and, wherein said concealable drop down bannerincludes icons enabling navigation to other pages and/or subject matter.2. The social network system of claim 1, wherein said first row iscomprised of images, including subject matter pertaining to any ofrecent posts posted to others in the network by the user's friends. 3.The social network system of claim 1, wherein said first row iscomprised of images, including system users offering articles andmerchandise for sale through the social network system.
 4. The socialnetwork system of claim 1, wherein said first row is comprised ofimages, including images posted on pages of the social network system byone or more friends of said user.
 5. The social network system of claim1, wherein said first row is comprised of images, including a legend,which is followed by a brief description of the post.
 6. The socialnetwork system of claim 1, wherein said second row is comprised of animage that displays a link to a news article posted by said one or morefriends of said user.
 7. The social network system of claim 1, whereinsaid second row is comprised of images, including subject matterpertaining to any of recent posts posted to others in the network bysaid one or more friends of said user.
 8. The social network system ofclaim 1, wherein said second row is comprised of images, includingimages that said one or more friends of said user within the network hasrecently uploaded.
 9. The social network system of claim 1, wherein saidsecond row is comprised of images, including a new post that said one ormore friends of said user has posted on another system page.
 10. Thesocial network system of claim 1, wherein said second row is comprisedof images, including a new post that said one or more friends of saiduser has posted on his or her own page.